Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Apr 10: The Centre today said that no final decision has been taken on creating separate settlements for Kashmiri Pandits as the process of consultations for their return was on but asserted that the Government “cannot be influenced by separatists” who work at the diktats of Pakistan.
“I will not be able to spell out the details of the policy because nothing is finalized yet. The consultation process is going on and the State Government of Jammu and Kashmir and Union Ministry of Home Affairs, we all have to come together and take a call.
“It has to be in the interest of the state, interest of the people only. So, I cannot spell out till things are finally decided,” Union Minister of State for Home Affairs, Kiren Rijiju told reporters here.
The Union Minister maintained he cannot make a statement just on the basis of the preliminary work.
“We have a very effective elected Government. After the overwhelming participation in the democratic process by the people of Jammu and Kashmir, the Government has been installed; now the process has to be through proper consultations between the state, Centre and Ministry of Home Affairs. I cannot just make a statement on the basis of the preliminary works,” he said.
Referring to separatists’ call for a shutdown tomorrow against the proposal of separate settlements of Pandits, the Union Minister said there were elements in the State who wanted to create problems for the country.
“There are elements in the State who definitely try to wipe up the sentiments of the people which will create problems. So my appeal would be that people should work together and not get brainwashed or influenced by those elements who want to create problems for the country and for the society,” he added.
In an apparent reference to Pakistan, Rijiju said, “We cannot be influenced by people working at the diktat of the outsiders and all. Anybody indigenous of Jammu and Kashmir, we are Indian citizens, we have to talk to each other. Dialogue and discussion is the process.”
The fate of the controversial AFSPA in Jammu and Kashmir will be decided after a thorough consultation with all stakeholders, he said while noting that “no democracy will want to have a law like this”.
Rijiju said the Ministry of Defence has a “very strong” view that the law should continue because of the “unusual kind of security situation” in the State.
“AFSPA is a very special provision and it is invoked in special circumstances. When the situation is ripe, it should be revoked. No democratic society will want to have such a law,” he told reporters here.
The Minister, however, said any decision on the revocation of Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) would be taken after consultations with all the stakeholders, provided normalcy is restored.
“When it is a very unusual kind of a security situation the security agencies have to face, then this law (AFSPA) is invoked. Now, you must be aware that the Ministry of Defence has a very strong view that this law should continue and we cannot unilaterally make an announcement from the Home Ministry,” he said.
The statement by the Union Minister comes two days after differences between allies PDP and BJP over the issue of revocation of AFSPA came to the fore.
While Chief Minister Mufti Mohammed Sayeed said the State Government would work towards a phased withdrawal of AFSPA, coalition partner BJP demanded not to revoke the law, saying the terrorist attacks that took place on Monday must act as an eye-opener for those who advocate the revocation of AFSPA.
“It is the consultations for which all the stakeholders have to come together in the interest of the nation and the State… For the security of the people, this law has been used and we have to ensure that it is not abused or misused. That is the concern we have and it is a concern for everybody to see that such laws are not required and normalcy returns and people live with full peace and security,” he said.
The Union Minister said despite appreciable decline in the militancy-related violence in the State there were issues which need to be dealt before a decision on the revocation of AFSPA is taken.
“There are issues still that we need to deal with and that one thing you all know that situation seems to be much better in Kashmir, but there are issues which we have to be careful (about) and in national interest, we have to take decisions. But at the same time, the interest of the Kashmiri people, interest of the civilians, it has to be kept in mind for anybody,” he said.
He said, “I feel that normalcy will return with the people’s participation in the democratic process, which shows that people want peace”.
Meanwhile, Rijiju chaired the second meeting of the Committee of Eminent Freedom Fighters at SKICC Srinagar, today.
During the meeting, the Committee deliberated various issues of concern to the freedom fighters. Issues such as granting reservation in Central Government Services to all dependents of the freedom fighters, permitting their grand children to study in the Central schools spread all over India, providing employment to families of the freedom fighters including petrol pump, gas agency etc, giving job in Railways to at least one person recommended by freedom fighters and free electricity were considered by the committee.
The agenda of the meeting also included extending bank loan to dependents of all the freedom fighters, providing temporary accommodation/stay for the freedom fighters in district Headquarters, revalidation of Orders related to medical facilities provided to freedom fighters, renewal of complimentary railway passes for three years instead of one year, extending free railway passes to all eligible Dependents/ Successors of freedom fighters and free toll tax to all freedom fighters while travelling on National Highways.
“The Committee considered increasing basic pension of freedom fighters/daughters, verification of freedom fighters/ dependents family pensioners, switch over of PPOs from SBI to Other Nationalised banks, mandatory transfer of PPOs from treasuries to Banks. The meeting was informed that the numberof central freedom fighters pensioners as on January 1, 2015 was 11,434 and the widows and eligible dependents was 24,466 total of which comes to 35,900. The participants highlighted the problems faced by the freedom fighter pensioners in processing their pensions and also sought increase in the pension to unmarried and unemployed daughters. Assuring the participants, Rijiju said that the Ministry will update the quota available to freedom fighters beneficiaries.
In his concluding remarks, the Union Ministers thanked the freedom fighters for their participations in the meeting adding that “we must draw inspiration from these brave souls and ensure highest degree of respect to them”.
The ‘freedom fighters’ who attended the meeting include Vidya Sagar Shukla, Radheswas Prassad Singh, Rai Singh Patanga, Om Prakash, G.S. Mitra, N.R. Mathad and Rampilla Narasayamma.
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